"The first thing I said to people, giving speeches here (in the UK), was that it was worth it and I have never had a word back from any of the people who went there - no matter how badly injured - who said it wasn't worth it - not one."

The debate over control of the islands was reignited this year with the 30th anniversary of the war.

Three decades after Mrs Thatcher sent 27,000 troops and more than 100 ships to expel Argentinian invaders, Buenos Aires continues to set its sights on claiming the territory it calls Las Malvinas.

Sir Rex was 86 when he died

But the local government hopes a referendum next year on the future sovereignty of the archipelago will send a firm message to Argentina that islanders want to remain British.

The Falkland Islands, a rocky archipelago in the south Atlantic, are 7,780 miles from the UK and 1,140 miles from Buenos Aires.

They have been under British control since 1833 - apart from the brief but bitter 74 days of occupation in 1982.

Just over half of their population of 3,000 people are on the electoral roll and are expected to take part in the vote.

It will be the first referendum held on the islands, but in a poll in the mid-1980s, 94.5% of those who took part supported staying British.

Foreign Secretary William Hague paid tribute to Sir Rex, saying he showed "great courage and fortitude" during the Argentine invasion.

Mr Hague said: "As governor of the Falkland Islands he served his country and the Falkland Islanders with great distinction.

"Like the Islanders themselves, he demonstrated great courage and fortitude in the face of Argentine aggression during the Falklands conflict.